29th of July, 2024.
What is the second best thing that it could ever happen to me, after meeting Aamir Khan? Meeting him again, of course! And what about the third…? Laugh.
I will not be so accurate this time, about every detail of our meeting though. But I will tell you that it was amazing again!
We had dinner this time. At his home again. And even though I was nervous, this time it was easier to breath, to think and to talk. It was just the two of us, perhaps that helped too, as I felt we were chatting just like two friends. How marvelous it is to just seat with him and listen to his stories.
This time I was serene enough to look straight at him at all times, just enjoying the pleasure of having him looking right back at me, and not to the lenses of a camera. He too seemed calmer and relaxed, opening his heart to me, and filling mine with even more joy by saying: “It’s so comfortable talking to you.”
His youngest son, Azzad, dinned with us, and what a lovely boy he is! Sociable, talkative and funny too!
The almost four hours I spent with Aamir are, for certain, the shortest 4 hours in History. By the end of the night, I gave him the small gifts I got and made for him: a book, a DIY bookmark, and a poem I wrote for him. Sitting by my side in the couch, his reaction was to hug me, and while doing so, he kissed my shoulder. And gosh, just by writing this down, my heart melts down, so can you imagined how did I feel at that moment?
During our conversation, I dared to ask him to sing for me, when we were talking about his singing lessons. After so kindly singing something, he invited me to come over next morning again, to watch one of his lessons. I didn’t want to feel like bothering him too much by coming over again, so I kind of refused at first, but as he reinforced the invitation later, I accept it at once!
In all his generosity and simplicity, Aamir offered for his car to take me to my accommodation. Before seeing me to the car, he told me that his driver would pick me up tomorrow morning and also drop me off after the singing lessons. Yeah, I know, he is just that awesome! With a long hug, we say goodbye.
I can’t explain how good is the feeling of knowing, for at least once in life, that I would see my dearest Aamir two days in a roll.
Five minutes earlier than expected, his super kind driver is already waiting for me. We chat on the way and after telling me that he works for Aamir for over 30 years, he just reinforced what I already know, that Aamir ji sir is a very good man.
This time, when I get out of the car, no security guards to tell me where should I go, or even come with me. I am like, acquainted now. Just kidding.
I first meet Aamir’s guru, one of the sweetest and calmest women I have ever met. She is so cute in her chillness, that I just want to hug her. We chat for a little while before Aamir arrives, mostly about life and music, and she shows me also the harmonium (if I am not mistaken that’s the name), this Indian instrument which resembles an accordion, which she can play beautifully, as many other instruments too.
When Aamir walks in, we great each other with a hug again, and then, the shortest hour of my life pass, as it was one second. It was a magical morning. I wrote Aamir that later. But now I can also think of another word: ethereal. To think that I had the honour of watching Aamir singing for about one hour, is beyond me.
After his guru left, we chatted a little bit more, and I finally told him how extraordinary I think he is. We took a photo (the one which was stolen and I don’t have anywhere else) and he gives me a wonderful gift by simply asking: “So when do I see you again, six months? One year?” I told him the ugly truth, which broke my heart, of course, that I would not be back to India again.
One last hug. The longest one. And all I can say is that, I went from a totally unexpected, almost imperceptible hug when we first met over a year ago, to 5 wonderful hugs within 14 hours. My dear friend Miles mentioned that, to know how many hugs you’ve got from someone, in a certain amount of time, it must be love. He is right.
10 Years Around the World 